Plate finishing machine



Oct. 8, 1940. A. |5BE| L PLATE FINISHING MACHINE Filed Feb.. 28. 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct- 8. 1940- l .1. A. usal-:LL

PLATE FINISHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 19:59

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Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICEv naar PLATEL FINISHING MACHINE John A. Isbeu, Plainfield, N. J., assignor to wood Newspaper Machinery Corporation, Plainfield,- N. J., a corporation of Virginia l g Application February 28, 1939, Serial No; 258,971

6 Claims. (Cl. .Z9-21) This invention deals with the type of machine where printing plates, particularly stereotype plates, are shaved to the proper thickness and delivered, ready for placing on the printing press. The machine is provided with an inspection platform on which the plate is placed. After inspection the plate is allowed to pass into themachine where the concave surface of the semicylindrical plate is shaved and the beveled edges are trimmed. After shaving and trimming, during which process the plate is clamped into and unclamped from the shaving arch, it passes on the delivery end of the machine, ready to be placed on the printing press.

In a machine of this character now in use considerable difculty is encountered with weakness in the frame structure and in keeping the arch set concentric with the knife bar. It is therefore the purpose of this invention to provide a device which will insure strength and accuracy with provisions for adjustments toy obtain the original accurate setting.

The shaving arch cast as an integral part of the base is the main feature of the machine. This one-piece construction insures that, when a successive number of plates is machined, each will be held in exactly the same position in regard to the knife bar, and thereby produce a series of plates which are machined exactly alike.

The knife bar is mounted in heavy duty bearings and firmly secured to the same base that contains the shaving arch. Adjustable gibs are provided to set bearing housings accurately.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a machine embodying this invention, showing particularly the main frame and knife bar;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 and shows the plate in its lowered position on the left hand side of the gure and in the raised position on the right hand side of the figure, illustrating how the plate is clamped in the arch;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the adjusting bearings, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the bearing.

Fig. 1 shows the main frame I whose ends are suitably machined to accommodate an inspection bracket 2 and a delivery bracket 3. In the main frame I, pads 4 and 5 are machined with suitable grooves to engage tongues 6a and 12L on bearing housings 6 and 1 respectively. Said housings carry heavy duty clearance-free bearings that rotatably mount a knife bar 8 in such position that its axis coincides with the center of the arch. The above grooves are machined at right angles to the axis, thereby allowing transverse adjustment but definitely locating the knife bar 8 longitudinally.

The knife bar 8 derives its motion from a motor 9 which is fastened to the underside of the bracket 2. A motor pinion I8 drives a gear Il attached to a worm shaft I2. A worm I3 mounted to the shaft I2 operates a worm wheel I4, which in turn drives a worm I5 which is secured to a shaft I6. The worm I5 operates a worm gear I1 keyed to the knife bar 8. In this manner the motor 9 rotates the knife bar `3.

Bolted to the inside of the shaving arch I6 of the main frame I, as shown in Fig. 2, is a water cooled liner I6a which engages the printing surface of a plate P2, as shown on the right hand side of Fig. 2. Plate lifters I8 and I9 are provided to raise the plate, by 'mechanism not shown, from the position PI to the position P2 against the liner I6 and hold the plate securely while the knife bar 8, carrying knife blades 20 and 2l, shaves the inner surface of the plate to finish said plate to the proper thickness. A trimming tool 22 also attached to the knife bar trims the curved edge of the plate.

The bearing housing 6 shown in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 4 is securely bolted to the main frame I by bolts 23. Slotted holes in the base of said housing allow adjustment by means of a gib 24. It should be understood that gibs are provided at each end of the bearing housings. Adjusting screws 25 and 26 threaded in to the gib 24 permit said gib to be set before being fastened by a screw 21' to the main frame I.

Laminated shims 28 are provided between the bearing housing 6 and the main frame I to adjust the vertical position of the knife bar B.

The bearing housing 'I is mounted to the frame I in the same manner as the housing 6.

It is therefore evident that when the knife bar is properly set in the main frame, all plates finished in the shaving arch will be machined exactly alike.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A plate nishing machine, including a main frame, a shaving arch, and a shaving knife, adjustable bearings in which said shaving knife is mounted, said main frame and shaving arch besaid knife bar carrying a plurality of knives for` nishing the concave surface of a printing plate.

4. A plate finishing machine, including a main frame integral with a shaving arch, a liner con' centric with the inner surface of the shaving arch, means for lifting a printing plate and clamping it in the arch against said liner, a knife bar mounted in adjustable bearings and a plurality of knives carried thereon for finishing the concave surface of the printing plate.

5. A plate finishing machine, including a main frame and a shaving arch integrally connected, a liner concentric with the inner surface of the shaving arch, means for lifting a printing plate and clamping it in the arch against said liner, a knife bar concentric with the arch, adjustable bearings in Which said knife bar is mounted and a plurality of knives carried on the bar for nishing the concave surface of the printing plate.

6. A plate finishing machine, including a main frame and a shaving arch integral with each other, a knife bar mounted in adjustable bearings,

a knife secured to said knife bar for iinishing the concave surface of a printing plate.

JOHN A. ISBELL. 

